Another Day #12: Scream Day

Today is Scream Day, "an unconventional yet meaningful observance that encourages individuals to release stress, frustration, and emotional tension through a simple act—screaming."

Little Esther - Hollerin' And Screamin'

A Certain Ratio - Life's a Scream

Carrie - California Screamin'

20/20 - The Night I Heard a Scream

Moose - Screaming 

Bronski Beat - Screaming

"In a fast-paced world filled with pressure and responsibilities, this day serves as a reminder that emotional expression is essential for mental well-being."

Amen to that, brother.

Tom Waits - Earth Died Screaming

Biff Bang Pow - Then When I Scream

Robyn Hitchcock - Young People Scream

Jim Bob - Scream If You Want To Go Slower

Nut - Scream

Have a good scream on me today.

Modern Life Is Rubbish #8: What's Your Name Again?

As a follow-up to last week's post about there not being a lot of boys named Gary anymore, I promised to tackle girls' names next. And Sam was once again very helpful, particularly when this song popped up on an in-car mixtape...

Still one of Paul Heaton's finest hours, that - and I love the guest appearance by George Michael in the video.

Anyway, as the song played, Sam told me, "there's none of those girls in my school."

Which means, he doesn't know any kids called...

Oh Shirley, oh Deborah, oh Julie, oh Jane...

Billy Bragg – Greetings To The New Brunette (Shirley)

Tyrannosaurus Rex - Debora

Shakin' Stevens - Oh Julie

Jefferson Starship - Jane

And he doesn't go to school with anyone called...

Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Jennifer She Said

Elvis Costello - Alison

The Legendary Ten Seconds - Philippa’s Song

(I had to search for that one. Not enough songs about girls called Philippa. There was a Pippa in my 6th form. I fancied her. No chance. She went out with my mate Simon.)

Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan

Beck - Debra 

Gordon Lightfoot - Farewell To Annabel

And for completeness' sake, here's the other name mentioned in Song For Whoever... but not in Sam's school register.

The Waterboys - Cathy

I asked Sam about a few more of the names I went to school with. He didn't know girls by any of these names either...

Michael Nesmith - Joanne

Jimmy Eat World - Claire

(Apologies if you wanted to hear Gilbert.)

The Wedding Present - Rachel

Murray Head - Ruthie

Some success though - he did at least know one Sarah and one Emma. I think every other girl in my school was called Sarah or Emma...

Thin Lizzy - Sarah

Hot Chocolate - Emma

He didn't know any Louises though. Except for his Mum!

The Human League - Louise

There's a lot of good things to be said about that song, and its video - but mostly, I want a barge covered in books like the one Phil has.

I would be remiss if I didn't also feature the other great Louise song of that era...

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

So then, I hear you ask, if Sam doesn't go to school with any of the girls above... what are his female schoolmates called? Well, he knows at least five girls called...

Shocking Pinks - Emily

And four called...

Madonna - La Isla Bonita

OK, that one had me stumped. If you know a song about a girl called Isla, please let me know.

He also knows two or even three different girls with each of the names below...

Wolves of Glendale - Olivia

John Denver - Darcy

Ben Folds - Gracie

Fred Again - Winnie

Tom Waits - Beatrice (Baby I'm Not A Baby Anymore)

That last one was a stretch too.

As with the boys' names then, there's been another major shift in what parents are choosing to call their kids these days... and the most popular names are ones that would mostly have belonged to old people when I was a kid. 

It's also highly unlikely that Marie will be the name of anyone's latest flame in Gen A... making all these old songs sound even more out of date.

Another Day #10: Easter Monday

It's Easter Monday!

Which means it's also one of these...

Surely there won't be any other special Awareness Days happening today?

Think again. Because in the USA, it's also...

Army Day

Good job there isn't a war on, eh, Donnie? Just a little "excursion"...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Oliver's Army

Status Quo - In The Army Now

Kate Bush - Army Dreamers

However, there's another Army that will be celebrating today, because it's also...

National Tartan Day

"National Tartan Day was created to celebrate Scottish history and the achievements of people of Scottish descent around the world."

 

There may well be a song that involves the words "Tartan" and "Army", but I'll leave it for CC to feature that one.

Instead, here's a song from a native son of Scotland... and it's the "Tartan Mix", which I assume means they stuck a minute of bagpipes on at the beginning...

Rod Stewart - Every Beat Of My Heart [Tartan Mix]

From Scotland to Australia next, where it's...

Waltzing Matilda Day

...celebrating "a song that has a knack for slipping into people’s heads and staying there, whether it’s sung in a stadium, taught in a classroom, or hummed while doing the dishes."

Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues

Eric Bogle - And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

If Waltzing Matilda is now stuck in your head... well, you know what you need, don't you? 

National Teflon Day

A day to celebrate all the crimes a certain Orange Autocrat has got away with? 

Caged Animals - Teflon Heart

If only he was in a cage. Sadly, whatever you accuse him of, it won't stick.

Meanwhile, if you're sick of Easter Eggs by now, maybe try a little pasta...

National Carbonara Day

No idea who came up with that genius idea.

"The ideal thing that almost anyone can do on National Carbonara Day is to head out to a favourite Italian restaurant and order up a plate of carbonara pasta."

But surely there aren't any songs about Carbonara?

Spliff - Carbonara

I'd advise you not to click on that link. Don't blame me if you did.

To cheer you up at the end of this post, why not contemplate your own mortality? Yes, it's...

Plan Your Epitaph Day

Here's a song I want playing at my funeral...

Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house

Maybe you'll think of me and smile

Another Day #3: National Weatherperson's Day

Today is National Weather Person’s Day, primarily in the USA where it marks the birthday of John Jeffries, thought to be America's first weatherman. He was also the first person to ever collect weather data from a balloon over London in 1784, rising to a height of 9000 feet with a thermometer, a barometer, and a hygrometer to see if it was raining. Presumably he also took an umbrella.

Here are some predictable tunes about Weather People to celebrate…

A Tribe Of Toffs - John Kettley (Is A Weatherman)

The Weather Prophets - She Comes From The Rain

The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men

Spearmint – The Weather Forecaster

Opinionated weather forecasters telling me it’s going to be a miserable day
Miserable to who? I quite like a bit of drizzle, so stick to the facts

Half Man Half Biscuit – A Country Practice

Hank Williams Jr. - Weatherman

Blur – This Is A Low

Sheryl Crow – Weather Channel

Tom Waits – Emotional Weather Report

ELO – Mr. Blue Sky

Snapshots #430: Underwear Songs!

Heidi Hi, campers! 

Welcome back to this week's Snapshots – songs about underwear! Ms. Klum is famous for walking about in her skivvies, though she did agree to keep her kit on for propriety’s sake. It was either her or Biggie Smalls…

15. Crazy, Hippy Lit.

Crazy Chick was a song by Charlotte Church. Hippychick by Soho. And Chick Lit by We Are Scientists.

The Chicks - Tights On My Boat

14. Tanya Donnelly. (Donelly. Donnelly. Donnelly.)

Tanya Donnelly was the lead singer of Belly. (Belly. Belly. Belly.)

Echobelly - Pantyhose and Roses

13. It’s not unusual to be a very patient man.

Tom Waits - Pasties And A G-String

12. Chinese troops in a skirmish.

“Chinese troops” was an anagram.

Stereophonics - More Life In A Tramp’s Vest

11. When it comes to not throwing stones, these guys are the rulers.

People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones… but imagine you lived in a Crystal Castle?

Crystal Castles - Through The Hosiery

10. Sounds like a Yes Man to me.

His namesake is Jon Anderson from Yes.

John Anderson - Do You Have a Garter Belt?

Think this was originally a Tony Joe White tune, but Tony appears here regularly.

9. Show me to my seat.

Usher - Lingerie

8. Dado, shags Patti.

Da do Ron Ron… Sex with (Patti) Smith.

Ron Sexsmith - Late Bloomer

7. It takes a bright man to be captain of the England cricket team.  

Sarah Brightman and Michael Vaughan.

Sarah Vaughan – Shiny Stockings

6. Needs ironing out.

The Kinks - Mick Avory's Underpants

Yeah, OK, it’s only an instrumental – but you find a song with underpants in the title!

5. Most stories contain one - Add Me On Snapchat!

Most sTORIes. The Snapchat thing is an acronym that the young people use. Apparently.

Tori Amos - The Power of Orange Knickers

4. May, Kennedy and Wilson, like the cattle.

Three Bri/yans and Highland Cattle.

Bryan Hyland - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Just be glad I didn’t choose the Timmy Mallett version.

3. Brown, South and Jackson get in the ring.

Three Joes, boxing.

JoBoxers - Boxerbeat

2. Frank takes a Scottish wife, in hashtags and angel eyes.

Frankenstein wanted a Bride, though he wasn’t fussed whether she was a Mc.

In hASHtags and angeLEYes.

Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti - Brenda Put Your Bra On

And yes, Ashley has some help on that track… but how long do you want my clues to get?

1. REM's 11th album gets a mixed response.

REM’s 11th was the LP UP. Anagram!

Pulp - Underwear

 

Something less pants next Saturday.

Snapshots #376: The Snapshots Sale Is Now On!

Now that the Snapshots Sale has officially been started by Robin Zander, lead singer of Cheap Trick, you can all bag yourself a bargain - while stocks last! 

20. Tony Pollard is very confused.

Hard as it may be to believe, "Tony Pollard" is an anagram for a very young...

Dolly Parton - The Bargain Store

19. Don't tell your other half about these guys.

Keep that affair secret, whatever you do...

Secret Affair - I'm Not Free (But I'm Cheap)

18. Foibles.

The Kinks - Massive Reductions

17. Mr. Loverman (not Shabba).

He's the man from Love...

Arthur Lee - You Can Save Up To 50% But You're Still A Long Ways From Home

Short but sweet, that one.

16. Wayward Prince, initially Jesus, every one famous.

Prince Harry is rather wayward, the first letter of Jesus is J, but they're all stars...

Harry J. All Stars - Liquidator

15. Octopus Alfred wearing a hockey mask.

Alfred Molina played Dr. Octopus... Jason wore a hockey mask.

Jason Molina - It Costs You Nothing

14. Eastenders without a cause.

Cockney Rebel - Big Big Deal

13. The riddle of who's steering the ship.

Jimmy Riddle at the Helm...

Jimmy Helms - Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse

12. Four sub-par Stewarts fly high with mock King. 

They're a quartet of B-Rods in the Sky... with an Elvis who's not the King.

Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet - This Offer Is Unrepeatable

11. Use your powers of deduction to describe Cilla's laughs.

You needed a lorra lorra logic to figure this one out...

Lora Logic - Wonderful Offer

10. Overweight and covered in spots.

Fats Domino - What A Price

9. Tired / Hippocampus.

Hippocampus is the Latin name for seahorses. If you're tired, you need a Sleeper.

Sleeper - Sale of the Century

Seahorses - Sale of the Century

8. Useful for chipping away at the igloo.

Cold Chisel - Cheap Wine

7. Better than Steve Mason and Gordon Anderson.

Steve Mason and Gordon Anderson were the Beta Band.

T-Bone Burnett, Steven Soles, and David Mansfield were...

The Alpha Band - Cheap Perfume

6. Senegal Intelligence Agency.

That would be the SIA...

Sia - Cheap Thrills

5. Crazy boys.

The Mad Lads - Don't Have To Shop Around

4. An insult to the Irish, and a Young man who talks to walls.

Faron Young sang Hello Walls, Mick is a derogatory term for the Irish...

Mick Farren - Half Price Drinks

3. Desperate / not depressive.

Desperate (Steely) Dan and the Manics (not depressives).

Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go

Steely Dan - Everything Must Go

2. What a Doctor and a Baker do at the bus stop.

Tom (Baker) Waits...

Step right up
Everyone's a winner!
Bargains galore!
That's right you too can be the proud owner of...
The quality goes in before the name goes on!

Tom Waits - Step Right Up

1. Get her out of the other way and you'll hear a crazy organ playing in your new build home. 

Remove "her" from "other way" and you get Otway. A crazy organ might be a wild willy... in a Barrett home.

John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett - Really Free

The Snapshots Sale Must End New Year's Day! Join us then for our final crazy reductions!

Snapshots #328: A Top Ten Songs About Different Types Of Fish

Something very fishy was going on yesterday morning. 

What did you catch?

10. In the end, he's pretty selfish.

He's pretty selFISH.

Fish - Goldfish & Clowns

Don't say I don't give you extra clues. We had Richard Herring yesterday too!

9. She'll do little to strip the raincoat from Cold War paranoia.

Eliza Dolittle...

Joseph McCarthy was in charge of Cold War paranoia. Take away his mac and he's just Carthy.

Eliza Carthy - Herring Song

8. The best possible, according to Kenny.

Kenny Everett always did things in the best possible taste.

Taste - Catfish

7. Named after their "black" German guitarist.

Brinsley Schwarz - Do The Cod

6. From Iceland, where they mix an oilier Martini.

"Oilier Martini" was an anagram for this Icelandic singer...

Emiliana Torrini - Tuna Fish

5. Sure to be run over.

Middle Of The Road - Soley Soley

OK, so the fish is a sole. But I still couldn't resist this one.

4. Get Marilyn to pay for it.

Bill Monroe!

Bill Monroe - Pike County Breakdown

3. Sounds like she's saying no to a tree, a bomb or a Red record label.

Neneh Cherry (featuring Michael Stipe) - Trout

2. Could be one of the Simpsons.

Not Homer's clan, a different Simpson...

Orange Juice - Salmon Fishing In New York

1. They often get broken.

Sadly, hearts gets broken all the time.

Heart - Barracuda

A tough haul this week... though I did have a few more caught in the net...

Half Man Half Biscuit - Grafting Haddock In The George

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombone

Baby Lemonade - Secret Goldfish

The Heart Throbs - Tuna

Radiohead - Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box

Mansun - Drastic Sturgeon

Something far less fishy next Saturday.